Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-09
XLIN CONGRESS.
THE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-Mr. Dlbble of
South Carolina, from the committee on
public buildings and grounds, reported
back the senate bills authorizing the con-
struction Of public building at Houston,
Tex.
Mr.. Cox of North Carolina, from the
committee on civil-servlce reform, re-
ported back the senate bill repeating the
tenure If Office act.
The house then in the morning hour
went into committee of the whole, Mr..
Cox of New York in the chair, for the
consideration OF bills reported from the
committee on public buildings AMI
grounds. The first bill called up
was thai appropriatlng $500 600
for the purchase Of 3 site ana the erection
of a public building at Charleston, S. c.,
and induTsing the sale OF the present
Dostoficc building in that city.
Mr.. Hepburn Of Iowa opposed the bill.
The city Of Charleston had been the scene
of terrible calamity, which rendered it
uIwise that the government should erect
new building ut that place at cost Of
$500 600. The vibrations were COntinu-
ing, and in the face of that fact it did not
seem wise to make this appropriation at
the present time. Mr.. Hepburn moved
TO reduce the appropriation to 100000
Lost
On motion of Mr.. Dibble Of South Caro-
line to limit debate, Mr. Hepburn raised
the point of no quorum, and the morning
hour having expired in an unsuccessful
attempt 20 secure quorum the commit
tee rose ana the bill went over without
action.
The house then went into committee of
the whole on the bill consolidating Ger
tain bureaus OF the navy department.
Mr.. Golf of West Virginia said that the
organization of the navy department was
on trial 20 day. An organization which
had existed from 1912 down to the pres
CHt time, and which the secretary of the
treasury said was vicious and ought to be
abolished. A system, he submitted,
which had wrought the great results
which the present system had was not
and could not be vicious. Still
il was To be tried. The secretary was
the prosecutor ana congress was the jury
ana it was asked to condemn without
single reason being given to show where
in the system was vicious. Tae claim
that the bill would promote economy was
false claim. Instead of reducing the
lumber f bureau officers to five. the bill
really increased il to twelve. He then
proceeded 10 criticize what he re.
garded ~ the most objectionable fea-
ture OF the measure, dwelling especially
upon the failure to provide that heads
of bureaus, with the exception of the
bureau Of material construction and re-
ports should have any special fitness Tor
the duties assigned them. The presi.
dent had called the navy
shabby ornament. The secretary OF
the navy had declared that its
organization was vicious, and yet, after
months OF study and session of analyses,
the committee ON naval affairs brought
forward p bill which gave the system over
again. There was change only in name
Mr.. Buck OF CnnectiCut strongly adyo-
Gated the bill. lie would vote for any
beneficial measures, whether it was pro-
posed By Democrat OF Republican. He
might add that after Republican
secretaries of the navy had for years
recommended Just this legislation, the
gentlemen from Maine and West Virginia,
Messrs. Boutelle and Gcff, said "We
must not do that now because a Demo-
cratic secretary recommends it," These
gentlemen seemed to be in favor of the
Republican side tiOurishing because the
Democratic side had been furnishing.
Laughter.
Mr. Boutelle-"Have you any founda-
tion for saying or intimating that the gen
tlemen from West Virginia or Maine have
st any time anywhere favored any such
measure as this destroying the functional
organization of the navy department
when recommended by Il publican >ecre-
taries ard have charged front now and
oppose i'?"
MIR. Ruck-'I have not"
M. BOu;elle-'I am glad to have g
categorical answe ~
"MT. Buck-"Yau are opposed to it to-
day, were opposed to it yesterday, and
viii be opposed 20 it as long ss q Demo
crat secretary Is in power" Laughter.
Mr.. Thomas Of Illinois advoc ted the
measure, bu. wished to djsabuse the
minds Of the members of me house Of
the idea that IL was q Democratic meas
ure. Pending further debate the COM
mittse rose.
The senate joint resolution was passed
appointing John p. ANGEL member of
the board of regents OF Smithsonian In
stitutt.
Mr. Willis of Kentucky reported the
river and harbOr bill, and the house ad-
journed.
FUp TRAIN lVQErEINE EASE